Glucosamine/Chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial

Reginster JY, et al. (2003). Lancet 357:251-256, 2001. Archives of Internal Medicine 163:1514-1522, 2003.

The Glucosamine/chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT) was a large, randomized, placebo-controlled trial conducted at several sites across the United States. The GAIT team, funded by NCCAM and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, actually conducted two studies:

• a primary, or original, study that investigated whether glucosamine and/or chondroitin could treat the pain of knee osteoarthritis.
• an ancillary, or additional, study that investigated whether the dietary supplements could diminish the structural damage of knee osteoarthritis.

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Efficacy of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) in osteoarthritis pain of the knee:
a pilot clinical trial.

Kim LS, et al. (2006). Osteoarthritis Cartilage 14(3):286-94.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted. Fifty men and women, 40-76 years of age with knee OA pain were enrolled in an outpatient medical center. Intervention was MSM 3g or placebo twice a day for 12 weeks (6g/day total). Outcomes included the Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index visual analogue scale (WOMAC), patient and physician global assessments (disease status, response to therapy), and SF-36 (overall health-related quality of life). RESULTS: Compared to placebo, MSM produced significant decreases in WOMAC pain and physical function impairment (P<0.05). No notable changes were found in WOMAC stiffness and aggregated total symptoms scores. MSM also produced improvement in performing activities of daily living when compared to placebo on the SF-36 evaluation (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: MSM (3g twice a day) improved symptoms of pain and physical function during the short intervention without major adverse events.